Admissions | Downloads | Contact

Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology

Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology

Department of Forensic sciences and toxicology

Vision

To be a center of excellence in forensic science education, research, and professional practice, contributing to justice, public safety, and society through scientific excellence and integrity.

Mission

To provide quality education and practical training in forensic sciences, promote innovative and ethical research, develop competent forensic professionals, and advance the application of science in the service of justice and society.

Objectives

1. To provide quality education and practical training in forensic sciences and related disciplines.

2. To develop competent and ethical forensic professionals equipped with contemporary scientific knowledge and practical skills.

3. To promote innovative, multidisciplinary, and locally relevant research in forensic sciences.

4. To strengthen collaboration and capacity building through partnerships with academic, medical, law-enforcement, judicial, and forensic institutions.

5. To promote scientifically rigorous and evidence-based forensic practices that contribute to the fair and effective administration of justice.

Courses offered:

  • MPhil Forensic Medicine and Toxicology

Overview

The MPhil Forensic Medicine and Toxicology is a postgraduate research and academic program offered by the KMU Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS) under Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. This advanced degree is designed to equip medical professionals with in-depth expertise in forensic medical sciences, integrating medico-legal knowledge, toxicological analysis, and research methodology to contribute to criminal justice and public health systems.

Mission

The mission of the MPhil Forensic Medicine and Toxicology program is to address the critical shortage of professionally trained postgraduate experts in the field of forensic sciences, particularly in forensic research and academia. The program aims to develop highly competent researchers, educators, and medico-legal experts equipped with advanced scientific knowledge, analytical skills, and ethical judgment. By strengthening human resource capacity in forensic medicine and toxicology, the program seeks to contribute effectively to medical education, forensic research, and the criminal justice system, while supporting law enforcement and judicial agencies through scientifically sound medico-legal expertise and evidence-based casework.

This program is ideal for:

  • Medical graduates (MBBS/Equivalent) registered with the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) seeking specialization in forensic sciences.
  • Clinicians and healthcare professionals aiming to strengthen their medico-legal competencies.
  • Researchers and educators pursuing careers in academic institutions, forensic laboratories and forensic research.

Eligibility: Applicants must hold an MBBS or equivalent degree recognized by the PM&DC with valid registration and fulfill the KMU admission criteria. (pgadmissions.kmu.edu.pk)

Curriculum and Structure

The MPhil Forensic Medicine and Toxicology program comprises coursework, laboratory training, and an independent research thesis. Coursework areas include:

  • General & Special Toxicology
  • Thanatology and Traumatology
  • Medicolegal Jurisprudence
  • Forensic Genetics
  • Fundamental of Forensic Sciences
  • Medicolegal aspects of Sexual assaults and asphyxia

Whereas optional courses a wide range including:

  • Analytical Toxicology and toxicology of Therapeutic agents
  • Drug Biotransformation & Molecular Mechanism of Toxicology
  • Forensic Anatomy and Odontology
  • DNA fingerprinting
  • General Forensic Tools and Techniques
  • Advances in Forensic Genetics
  • Biological Evidence and Serology
  • Crime Scene Management
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Forensic Pathology and more

Students will also undertake supervised research leading to an original thesis submission and defence, emphasizing practical skills and scholarly contribution to forensic sciences.

Institute & Delivery

This program is delivered at the KMU Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS)—a center committed to excellence in postgraduate medical education, research, and professional development. The institute provides modern facilities for laboratory work, seminars, and student research activities.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the MPhil Forensic Medicine and Toxicology program are well-positioned to pursue roles including:

  • Forensic Medicine Specialist
  • Medicolegal Officer
  • Toxicologist in forensic laboratories
  • Academic faculty
  • Research associate
  • Expert witness in courts and tribunals

The program prepares scholars for academic and research-oriented careers, as well as leadership roles in forensic science and legal medicine.

Research

Research information is being updated.

Publications

Student life and achievements information is being updated.

Lab facilities

The laboratories at the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences (IBMS) Khyber Medical University Peshawar provide state-of-the-art facilities and are amongst the most up-to-date and well equipped in the country. The laboratories house a wide range of facilities available for research and teaching (Table). The collaborative use of these facilities enables efficient and effective analyses of samples, as well as safe and productive time. IBMS has well-equipped laboratories with cutting edge instruments. Students with the help of capable technicians and faculty members perform all their research work in these laboratories. Freezers from -80, -40, -20 are available for long-term storage of research samples as well as shaking incubators, refrigerated CO2 incubators etc. The university also has approved a reference lab (PHRL) which the first of its kind in whole KPK with the help of WHO, NIH and KP health department.

KP-PHRL is a joint venture of the Khyber Medical University, Department of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. The objectives of this laboratory include diagnosis of notifiable disease, tracking of outbreaks, and ensuring safe laboratory practices in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. KP-PHRL functions round the clock providing surveillance testing and is under heavy workload during outbreaks. KP-PHRL is located in the academic block of IBMS. The laboratories included in KP-PHRL are, Hematology laboratory, Routine chemistry laboratory, Microbiology laboratory, Special Pathogens (BSL-III) laboratory, Molecular biology laboratory, Non-communicable disease and cytogenetics laboratory, Water, food and environmental testing laboratory, viral serology laboratory. Four PhD faculty members of IBMS and seven technical staff are looking after this laboratory. It is aimed that with routine functioning of the laboratory, not only KMU will provide essential health services to the community, but also provides students access to precious research samples for trans-disciplinary research. KP-PHRL is currently providing diagnosis and monitoring of population from Dengue affected areas in addition to the COVID-19 testing. One of the Lab, “Advanced Centre of Genomic Technologies” under the PHRL id fully equipped with the latest genome sequence facilities of international standards that are key requirement of population genetics and Forensic DNA studies.

We have a good facility with strict biosafety measures and equipment needed for the initial processing (such as centrifuges for separation of the sample fractions, equipment for sample aliquoting) and storage (deep freezers (-40 and -80 degree Celsius) and refrigerators (2-8 degrees Celsius)) of the samples and autoclaves for sterilization. We have a fully functional HPLC (Shimadzu) available in the biochemistry lab with the required columns available for analysis of PABA (recovery biomarker for completeness of urine samples) and for the carotenoids (concentration biomarkers). We will need only the chemicals (Acetonitrile, Methanol, water etc.) and standards (for PABA, Carotenoids) specific to the methods used for analysis of the biomarkers. Our Lab also has a fully functional Cobas® C111 chemistry analyser (Roche Diagnostics) available for the Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) analysis.

The institute also has a good internet and computer facilities in the Lab and access to published research in high impact journals and reference books through its Library. 

Contact

For inquiries related to the Department of Forensic Sciences and Toxicology, please use the main Contact page.

Other Departments